Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Little Magazine Café Rules Tribeca

Enter The Little Magazine Café in Tribeca and enter into the wonderful world of proprietor Fred Parvin. The café reflects him and his interests with waves of classical music pervading the air and a music room in the back of the expansive, vivacious space. The café stocks nearly every daily newspaper, periodical, and magazine; so there’s plenty of reading for Mr. Parvin, a retired professor.

A typical day at the café features a morning rush of people grabbing pastries, coffee, and anything from the Times to In Style to Black Book. The afternoon is filled with patrons, who adore Parvin’s delicious homemade soups. Around three is when the after school set of moms and their children flood in for aranciatas and Archie comic books. Between four and five is closing time for Parvin, but there’s always the few stragglers or the meetings that run overtime amongst directors and actors who live in the neighborhood.

Parvin lives around the corner and knows almost everyone who walks in the door. His dedicated crew of regulars includes Jon Stewart and Mike Piazza who live above the café. He talks to everyone, and sometimes it seems like the customers come in just to spend a little time with him.

Indeed, the café is very much an old world salon, meant for socializing, reading, writing, and thinking. Little Magazine offers free wireless Internet for the type who likes to tap out screenplays and emails on the go.

Though he usually closes his doors around four thirty, he often has impromptu concerts in the backroom, which serves as a sort-of music salon. He also has been known to transform the space into a party loft for his customers’ private parties.

Little Magazine Café is a local haunt that is completely in balance—loving owner, spacious environment, printed material for perusal, a stimulating soundtrack, delicious café food, and a loyal clientele. It is what every neighborhood should have but what many seem to lack. Indeed, Fred Parvin has created a Tribeca mainstay, which city dwellers should all make an effort to enjoy.

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